Well-tube-coupling mechanism



Jan. 29, 1.929. 1,700,291

H. G. JOHNSTON WELL TUBE COUPLING MECHANISM Filed une 2o. 1925 2 sheets-sneer 1 g Q Pill --w//fl fr@ l Q n j i N i \2 O u L jam@ a. Jawa.

Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,291

' H. G. JoHNs-roN WELL TUBE COUPLING MECHANISM Filed June 2o, 1925 2 shears-smet 2 l ww 141 2 6 1.5 14a A gnou/Lto@ 47 farace Ja/asian -f 49 41 Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcF..

HORAGEVG. JOHNSTON, OF CORSICANA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN WELL AND' PROSPECTTNG COMPANY, OF CORSICANA, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

WELL-TUBE-COUPLING MECHANIVSM.

.applic-.111011111111 .Tune 2o, 1925. serial No. 38,595.

My invention is a well tube coupling meehanism and its principal Objectis to provide a mechanism for successively coupling the well tube sections together, as they are 5 lowered into a well.

`A further object of the invention Ais to provide a tube coupling mechanism of -this character which, after the entire string of tubes has been lowered into the well, may lO'be utilized to support and drive the usual drilling tool. The invention also contemplates a mechanism including a rotary table, l

. 'removable means for holding one pipe section stationary during the threading operation, together with a removable bushing or bearing to be mounted in the rotary table to receive and drive the rotary well drilling tool from the turn table after the pipe sections have been coupled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power operated pipe coupling mechanism for coupling pipe or "tube sections as they are lowered into the well, and which may be readily and quickly operated to perform the coupling operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a well tube coupling mechanism including a turn table, and a removable bushing for clamping engagement with the drill aotool, whereby to drive the latter from the turn table when the mechanism is not being used to perform the coupling operation.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, c'onstruction and arrangement of parts and operations to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and Aillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the' mechanism associated with the adjacent ends of a pair of well tube sections.

Figure 2 is a vfragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism as utilized in driving the well drilling tool.

Figure 3 is a view partly in top plan and having parts broken away of theremovable sectional pipe clamping collar.

' A"Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the sections of the pipe holding collar.`

Figure5is a top plan view of the re' movable drill tool. driving means.

Figure 6 isa sectional view of one of the elements of the drill tool driving means.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the removable rotary bushing of the drill tool driving means.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional viewof the same. i

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the modilied embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein corresponding characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, numeral 5 designates a pair of parallel, horizontally arranged supporting beams, and secured thereto is a bed or base plate 6, the latter being held in place by suitable fastenings 7. This bed or base plate is provided with a circular upstanding ring 8, which, when the mechanism is inoperative position, is concentric to the well. Positioned above the ring 8 is a turn table 9 provided with a central opening 10 arranged concentric to the ring 8.v This turn table 9 is of relatively great thickness and is provided with circumferentially arranged gear teeth "11 upon its underface. Resting upon the base plate 6 and disposed beneath the turn table 9 is an annulus 12 whichy carries anti-friction rollers 13 upon which the underface of the turn table 9 rests. A depending annular flange 14 is formed with the inner edge of the underface of the turn table 9 and is revoluble about the annulus 12. A similar flange 15 is formed upon the underface of the turn table 9, and is movable about the recessed or reduced upper end 16 ofthe annulus 12. These flanges 14 and 15 serve to hold the turn table 9 against lateral movement. Vertical rollers 14a supported upon bed plate 6 are interposed between 14 and 12 to prevent` lateral movement of the turn table 9. Semicircular brackets 17 are positioned upon opposite sides of the turn table and are formed with inwardly directed semi-circular llanges 18, which extend horizontally into circumferential groove 19 in the periphery of the. turn table 9. These brackets 17 are formed with securing plates 20 which are secured to the bed lplate 6 by means of fastenings 21, andprevent upward movement of the table`9.

A power shaft 22 is mounted in bearings 23 carried by the bed plate 6, and carries a beveled gear 24 upon its inner end which meshes with the gear teeth 11. Suitable drive means such as sprocket wheel 25 is xed to the shaft 22 for the purpose of driv- 111] ing the same, the sprocket wheel being driven from a driven sprocket chain not shown.

In order to couple pipe sections P as they are lowered into the well, l provide a sectional wedge block holder which comprises a pair of semi-circular in cross section sleeve sections 27 provided with vertical abutting flanges 28. rlhese sleeve sections 27 are formed with semi-circular flanges 29 at their ends whichare connected together by means of radially disposed ribs or webs 30 formed on the outer face of these sections. As shown in Figur-e 1, the side walls of the sections are inclined or tapered inwardly from their upper ends to their lower ends to receive and co-act with pipe engaging wedge' blocks 31 in clamping one of the pipe sections against longitudinal .and axial move.- ment. 'llhese wedge blocks 31 are provided with eyes 32 adapted to be engaged by suitable means for the purpose of disengaging the wedge-blocks from the pipe. One of these sleeve sections is providedl with a keyway 33 adapted to receive a key 34, the latter being provided with a vertically disposed socket 35 in which a vertical post or stake 36 is received.` A similar stake or post 37 is removably arranged in one of a pair of`diametrically opposed sockets 38,-

formed in the upper face of the turn table 9. A pair of these sockets is provided for the purpose of obviating the necessity of rotating the turn table a complete revolution in order to dispose the stake or post 37 at a point diametrically opposite the stake or post 36.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: The union U is first engaged with the lower end of the upper pipe section before it is lowered into they well. A

Pipe clamps 39 are engaged with the pipe union U and upper pipe section respectively, and are arran ed with their handles engaging the sta es 36 and 37 respectively. The turn' table 9 is now rotated in a clockwise direction through the medium of the drive gear 24 which rotates the upper pipe section, and as the stake 36 is held stationary the coupling. will be threaded upon the lower end of the upper pipe section. This operation is repeated at each union of the pipe string until the entire string has been lowered into the well. However, after two adjacent sections have been coupled', the wedge blocks 35 are removed and the pipe string lowered to bring the coupling next in order in operative position.

An important feature of the present invention is the utilizing of the turn table as means for supporting drill tool bearings or bushings for ret-ainingthe tool in operative position inthe course of the drilling operation, and driving the tool by means of the irooaei turn table. As. shown in Figure 2, this drill toolsupporting and drivin means comprises a sectional rectangular frame or casting 40 which, after the wedge block holding sleeve sections and associated parts have been removed, is received in the opening 10. 'llhese frame sections or castings 40 are formed with half of an inverted frusj toconical member 41. Removably mounted in the frame 4() and frustoconical member 41 is a two-part bushing 42, each part of which is formed with semi-circular co-acting members 43, having their outer faces beveled as at 44 to conform to the contour of the interior of the frustoconical member 41. rlhe upper ends of these semi-circular members 43 are formed with laterally extending rectangular heads 44, which are received inthe frame 40 and are provided with coinciding recesses45 that are contiguous with and are the same contour as the inner faces of the members 43, and coact in receiving a rectangular drill bit. The rectangular heads are further yformed with pairs of upstanding ears 46 upon their upper faces, in .which pivoted hails 46 are mounted. In the modification shown in Figure; 10, upstanding co-acting semi-circular jaws 47 are formed with the upper faces of the rectangular heads 41. Car-` ried by the inner faces of each of the jaws 47 is a semi-circular manganese facing .element or inserts 48, whose .inner faces are flush with the inner faces of the jaws 47.

liormed with the elements 48 and extending longitudinally of the ends of their inner faces, are pairs of' spaced keys 49 which engage in spaced grooves or key-Ways 50, provided in the drill tool 51. U-shaped extensions are formed with each'of the jaws 47 and extend laterally therefrom and have their rear walls beveled as at 50. Removable pins 52 are disposed transversely of the upperends of the beveled ribs 53 formed on the outer face of each of the inserts 48, and pass through the U-sha-ped extensions 52. Bails or handles 54 are carried by the ends of the pins, whereby the sections of the bushing may be removed or positioned in the frame. y

ln order to lock the vsectional bushing to the frame 40, and to lock the frame 40 tothe turn table, I provide a plurality of horizontally arranged rotatable latch elements 55, which are rotatable in spaced slots 56 in the outer face of the rectangular frame 40. Each of these latch elements is fixed to a rotatable stem 57 rotatably supported in the frame 40, and are formed with sockets 58 at their upper ends adapted to receive a suitable implement. which, upon swinging the latter to the right or left, the elements will be `disposed in operative or inoperative positions. As shown in Fi re 2, the inner face of the fraaie 40 and t er outer face of the rectangular heads ed are provided with recesses 59 and 60 respectively, into which the latch velements are adapted to project when it is desired to lock the frame and sectional bushing against upward displacement in withdrawing the drill tool. When it is desired to remove the sectional bushing the latch elements are swung to a position where they will not project into the recesses 60. The operator can then lift the sectional bushing out of the frame l0 by means ot the bails or handles 46. Also if it is desired to remove the frame and sectional bushings as a unit, the latch elements will be rotated to a position where they will not project into the recesses 59. Pairs of spaced openings 6 2 are formed in the upper face of the frame d@ which may be engaged by suitable tongs andl the frame withdrawn.

llt will be manifest that with my invention, well tubing sections may not be only coupled together through the medium of the turn table and associated parts, butthat this turn table may bev utilized to rotate the drill .tool

by simply associating the :traine and two-part bushing with the turn table as above set forth.

While l have illustrated and described one embodiment of the invention, I wish to emphasizethat l do not limit myself to the exact construction set forth, but that I may make alterations and modifications therein,`

and that such alterations and modifications are only Uoverned by the appended claims. What claim is 1; A pipe coupling machine comprising a turn table, means for rotating the turn table,

,thereon meansI vertically a sectional frustoconical collar through which pipe sections are adapted to pass, removable wedge block associated with the sectional collar and adapted to engage a pipe section and hold the same stationary, the

sectional collar bein provided with a key- Way, vertical stake carried .bythe key, a secon a key remova ly mounted therein, a

stake carried lby the turn table and clamps,

one ot which being adapted to be engaged with a pipe section adjacent its coupling, and the other being engageable with the coupling, and such clamping elements, being dis posed in advance of the stakes, whereupon rotation of the turn table the upper section of pipe will be threaded upon the adjacent end of a pipe coupling.

2. A pipe'coupling mechanism comprising a base, a turn table rotatably supported for rotating the turntable, means ior'holding the pipe sections against downward and axial movement, including a collar provided with a vertical key-way, a

arranged key received in the keyway, a vertical stake detachably associated with the key, a second vertical stake carried bythe turntable and disposed at a point diametrically opposite the first mentioned stake, detachable pipe tongs engaged with the coupling of a pair of pipe sections and the upper pipe section respectively, and en gaged' by the stakes whereby upon rotation of the turn table' the coupling will be threaded upon the adjacent ends of two pipe sections.

In. testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature'.

yHORACE Gr. JOHNSTON. 

